10 Best Wet Cat Foods in 2025, Recommended by Vets

What To Consider When Buying Wet Cat Food

If you’re not sure where to start your search for the best wet food for cats, our veterinary experts say to begin by finding a pet food company that invests in nutritional research, conducts feeding trials, and includes veterinary nutritionists on their staff. 

Once those criteria have been met, the following factors can then help you match the best wet cat food to your cat’s specific needs.

Cat’s Age

Cats should be fed a diet that is complete and balanced for their life stage. Cat food can be formulated for adult maintenance (intended for healthy adult cats), growth and reproduction (for kittens and pregnant or lactating females), and all life stages. 

Our veterinary experts also look for specific ingredients when addressing needs at different life stages. 

Kittens require the right amount of protein, fat, and omega-3 fatty acids for growth and brain and eye development, plus vitamins like E and C for a healthy immune system. 

Adults need a diet with a nod toward weight maintenance. 

Senior cats do best with diets that help maintain muscle mass, reduce inflammation, and support joints, brain, skin, and coat. 

Look for a label on the packaging that says it meets the Association of American Feed Control Officials’ nutritional standards and is complete and balanced for your cat’s life stage. 

Ingredients

Ingredients are listed on the packaging in order by weight. Look for water and a good source of protein (like chicken or fish) as the first ingredients. Cats get most of their energy from protein and fat, not carbs. All of our panel’s picks for best canned cat foods have water and protein as their first two ingredients. 

Our veterinary panel also gave high marks for wet cat foods that contain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, antioxidants, prebiotics, probiotics, and fiber.

Activity Level 

A very active cat might require a higher calorie diet with protein and other energy-boosting ingredients to provide fuel for activity and ensure proper weight. A less active cat might do best on a low-calorie wet food with more fiber to satisfy their hunger.

Look at the calories per can, crude protein level, and fiber amount (if any) when comparing canned cat food options to see whether they fit well with your cat’s weight and activity level. 

Health Status

Cats with certain health conditions might benefit from a therapeutic veterinary diet, which is specially formulated to prevent, manage, and in some cases treat certain medical conditions. These diets will require authorization from your veterinarian, along with specific feeding instructions.  

For example, your cat might need a wet cat food that is formulated for feline weight management, diabetes, or kidney or urinary disease. 

Texture

Like people, many cats have food texture preferences. Most wet cat food textures fall under minced, pâté, and chunks in gravy/broth. Whether your cat loves to lick or chew might guide their preference. 

Smooth and creamy pâté works well for lickers, minced might be preferred by chewers, and chunks in gravy allows cats to both lick and chew. 

Texture preferences can change with age and health issues. Proper exposure to different textures helps ensure your cat will be less likely to develop picky eating habits as they age.

How We Selected the Best Wet Cat Food

This list of the best wet cat foods was meticulously curated by a panel of veterinarians and veterinary technicians who are employed by Chewy, the publisher of PetMD. The panel was asked to choose the best wet cat foods in their honest opinion, across multiple categories, based on the following: 

• Their knowledge and practical experience 
• A review of information published by the food manufacturers
• Attributes such as ingredients, calories, texture, and palatability

Opinions and product recommendations in this article belong solely to the review panel of vets and animal health experts. Manufacturers and vendors cannot buy placement in Vet Verified content or exert influence on our panelists as they evaluate products. 

Our sole goal with this program is to provide pet parents with the information they need to make the best decision for their pets.

Wet Cat Food FAQs

Q: How much wet food should I feed my cat?
A: Manufacturers include feeding guidelines on the food packaging. Follow the guidelines to determine the recommended serving size for your cat based on their ideal weight and age.

Feeding them based on their ideal weight is key to preventing cat obesity. Your vet can help you determine your cat’s ideal weight.

Keep in mind that the feeding guidelines are a starting point. Your cat’s needs might vary depending on whether you also feed them daily treats or any dry food. You should also consider other factors, including age, activity level, and health status. 

Discuss your cat’s unique needs with your veterinarian, who can help you fine-tune the serving size. 

Q: What is the healthiest food for an indoor cat?
A: Indoor cats do best on a well-balanced, weight-management cat food, as they tend to live a less energetic lifestyle due to boredom.

Feed them a cat food low in calories and fat. Look for high-quality, lean protein to support muscles and fiber to aid with hairballs and stool regularity. 

To prevent boredom and encourage a more active lifestyle, provide enrichment in the form of food-dispensing toys, slow-feeder bowls, and cat toys for hunting.

Q: Do cats need wet food every day?
A: Not all cats need to eat wet food every day (or at all) if they eat a dry food diet. 

Your vet might recommend feeding your cat wet food daily if they need more hydration, have certain dental or congestion issues, are recovering from hospitalization, or require a specialized diet for diabetes or kidney or urinary disease. 

Finicky or older cats might find wet food more enticing and easier to digest. 

You can also incorporate wet food as an enrichment or as a high-value treat to assist with behavior modification.

Q: What is better for a cat, dry or wet food?
A: Whether dry or wet food is better for your cat depends on your cat’s health needs and lifestyle. Work with your vet to see what combination would be best for your kitty’s specific needs. 

Wet food contains more water (which is great for cats with diabetes or kidney and lower urinary tract disease) and is lower in calories than dry food for a similar amount of food. The liquid helps cats feel fuller, which aids in weight control. 

Other pluses: Pills are easier to hide in wet food, and its pungent smell entices kitties who don’t have much of an appetite.